Crews busy preparing the grounds for AirVenture.... Hundreds of volunteers prep for EAA.

 

OSHKOSH, Wis. - The world's largest aviation fly-in in Oshkosh is still more than two weeks away, but the grounds at EAA AirVenture are already buzzing.

Preparing for a half a million guests is no easy task.

And while AirVenture is a big money maker for the area, it takes an army of volunteers to help get the fly-in up and running.

Jim Peale and his wife drove all the way from Lillian, Alabama to volunteer and help set up the grounds for EAA AirVenture.

It's been a tradition for the last 37 years.

"You feel like you're doing something, so we enjoy it, and get away. This is our getaway," Peale explained.

And he's not alone. Peale is one of about 400 volunteers from across the country, who have come to help get things ready.

From putting up signs, to hauling the picnic tables, the volunteers have all 1,100 acres covered.

And it's a good thing they do.

"It's simply put, this event could not happen without them," said EAA AirVenture spokesman Dick Knapinski.

Knapinski says while the event lasts just over a week, it takes the entire year to get everything into place.

Last year EAA welcomed 535,000 visitors.

And that's important not only for the Fly-In but also the surrounding area which benefits from the estimated $110-million economic impact spread out over a three county area.

"AirVenture is a very, very important economic machine for Northeast Wisconsin and all of the state," Knapinski explained.

To keep visitors coming back improvements are constantly being made year after year.

Last year turned out to be a little soggy, so ground crews worked earlier this year to renovate the drainage systems, especially in the camping area.

They are hopeful they won't run into the same flooding issues they experienced last year.

"And we're also going to have a dry year this year," said facilities manager Steve Taylor. "Fingers crossed, and then some."

And if the weather does indeed hold out, officials are expecting a busy week.

"We're hoping for a strong showing attendance-wise. We have a lot of attractions that are coming in," Taylor said.

Until the visitors arrive however, there is still some work that remains.

And volunteers, like Jim Peale, will make sure it gets done.

Officials say those who volunteer their time to set up will be working right up until the gates open on Monday the 25th.

And about 5,000 volunteers will be helping out on the grounds during the event.

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